Tie-plate.



UNITE STATES PHILIP W. MOORE, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE P.& M. CO., OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TIE-PLATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 13, 1911.

Patented Feb. 4,1913.

Serial No. 614,149.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PHILIP W. MooRn, acitizen of the United States, residing at Evanston, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements inTie-Plates, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to tie-plates.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a tie-plate having abody portion adapted to sink into a tie to aid in anchoring saidtie-plate on said tie and of such a configuration as to exclude waterfrom beneath the tie-plate.

Another object is to provide a tie-plate of simple configuration whichmay be manufactured economically.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated two embodiments of myinven tion which have certain practical advantages, other embodiments,of course, being contemplated. Referring to the drawingsz-Figure 1 is abottom plan view of one form of tie-plate embodying the invention. Fig.2 is a section on line 2, 2, of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3,3, of Fig. 1. Fig. 1. is a bottom plan View of another form of tie-plateembodying the invention. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5, 5, of Fig.4:.

The main characteristic of both forms of tie-plate illustrated, is thatthe under side is more or less concave or arched. hen the tie-plate isin position beneath the rail, it is pressed into the soft wood of thetie without causing any special damage to the wood fibers. The extent towhich the body of the tie-plate sinks into the wood is determined in themain by the degree to which the under surface of said tie-plate isarched or hollowed out. The tie plate sinks into the wood untilsubstantially the entire under surface thereof is in contact with theadjacent upper surface of the tie. This upper surface therefore becomesslightly crowned and may project upwardly above the normal surface ofthe tie. The periphcry of the tie plate does not cut the fibers, butdepresses them. Hence there is no rapid deterioration at these points.Instead the useful life of the tie is increased as the embedding of theperiphery in the wood of the tie forms a seal and prevents the entranceof water or excessive moisture between the tie plate and tie.Furthermore the crowned upper surface of the tie insures the absence ofwater or excessive moisture between the tie-plate and the tie. Where thetie has been creosoted or otherwise treated with a preservative, whichpenetrates as a general rule only a slight distance beneath the surfaceof the tie, the extent to which the tie plate seats itself in the tie isnot sufficient to cause penetration below the portion so treated andtherefore water does not have the access to the untreated portion.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 8, the body portion 1 is preferably provided with afiat upper surface for receiving the rail base and with walls or ribs 2completely surrounding each spike hole, preventing water from reachingthe tie through these openings. Additional inclosing walls or ribs 3 arepreferably provided on the base of the tie-plate around each hole.although I do not limit myself to this construction. These lower ribsare adapted to sink into the tie and thereby increase the hold of thetie-plate with respect to the tie. Downwardly extending ribs 5 arepreferably provided which depress the fibers of the tie and therebyaugment the amount of resistance which the tie-plate offers againstmovement in a horizontal plane. These ribs may be of any suitableconfiguration as long as they perform this function.

The form of tie-plate 6, illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 is similar to thatjust described except that no additional projecting ribs are provided.When the tie-plate is firmly seated on the tie, its end hold is reliedon to prevent movement of said tie-plate along the tie. This hold oranchorage may be augmented by the downwardly projecting wallssurrounding each spike hole.

Although in the forms illustrated the tieplate is thinner at the centerportion than at the edge, the hollowing out is not great enough toappreciably weaken the tie-plate. In the first form illustrated theprovision of the intersecting ribs results in stiffening the tie-plateat the most effective points. Both forms of tie-plate are illustrated ashaving fiat upper surfaces. Of course, it is apparent that the top ofthe tie plate may be of any suitable configuration and may be providedwith any of the well known shoulders, grooves, jaws or other means forcooperating with a rail.

The wood fibers of ties would disintegrate rapidly if subjectedfrequently to moisture for considerable periods. The exclusion ofmoisture therefore from beneath the tieplate lengthens the useful lifeof the tie. In the construction described the tie-plate rests uponpractically dry wood.

The invention is not to be limited to the particular embodimentsdescribed, nor to the details thereof as these forms were selected forpurposes of illustration only.

It is apparent that the invention may be embodied in numerous forms andtherefore I desire to include broadly all suitable equivalent means foraccomplishing the desired result as long as theyfall within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A tie-plate having itsunder surface arched both longitudinally and transversely whereby it isadapted to seat itself on a tie by the penetration of the body portionthereof into said tie, the penetration of said body portion beinggreatest around the outside edges of the tie-plate and graduallydecreasing toward the center portion of said tie-plate.

2. A tie-plate having a central area adapted to rest on the normal uppersurface of a tie, said tie-plate gradually increasing in Copies of thispatent may be obtained for thickness in all directions toward itsperiphery whereby the remaining portions of the tie in contact with theunder side of said tie-plate are depressed below normal surface of saidtie.

3. A tie-plate having a substantially spherical under surface of slightcurvature adapted to bear at all points against the upper surface of atie and having additional projecting portions adapted to be pressed intothe tie to increase the anchorage of said tie-plate.

4. A tie-plate having a curved under surface and having a plurality ofradially arranged, sharpened, projecting ribs which decrease in heightas they approach the periphery of the tie-plate, said ribs being adaptedto be pressed into the tie to aid in anchoring said tie plate.

5. A tie-plate having spike holes and having a concave under surface,the upper surface of said tie-plate being provided with projecting ribswhich completely surround each spike hole, the base of said tie-platebeing provided with projecting ribs which surround each spike holeandare adapted to be pressed into a tie to increase the anchorage of saidtie-plate;

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses.

PHILIP W. MOORE. l/Vitnesses E. R. KING, GEo. B. JONES.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. 0.

